Stories from 12 June 2012
Cuba: Bloggers Rally Around Beaten Dissident
Bloggers from the Cuban diaspora are concerned about the reported beating and detainment of dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, more popularly known as Antunez, after he testified via teleconference at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about the human rights situation on the island.
Colombia: Conflicting Reactions Following Release of French Journalist Roméo Langlois
The French journalist Roméo Langlois was released on May 30, after having been held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for a month. The journalist's statements after his release caused conflicting reactions among Colombian netizens.
Trinidad & Tobago: Message to “Sir Viv”
B.C. Pires shares his take on cricketer Denesh Ramdin’s message to former West Indies captain-turned sports commentator, Sir Vivian Richards: “If a player holds up a piece of paper to Sir Viv in the commentary box, I see it only as the fowl cock-and-them coming home to roost.”
Panama: Hoping for a Historic World Cup Qualification
Panama has had a great start in the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2014 Brazil World Cup and now Panamanians are beginning to dream, using Twitter to show their hope and joy. Panama has never qualified for a World Cup in the CONCACAF area group.
Prominent AIDS/HIV Doctor-Activist Kicked out of China
Deanna Dong from Tea Leaves Nation blogs about Chinese micro-bloggers’ comments on the leaving of prominent doctor-activist Dr. Lu Guogan, whose non-profit AIDS/HIV clinic in Guangxi province was recently shut down by the Chinese government.
Experience with China Post
Tom from Seeing Red in China has written an interesting post on his experience with China Post.
Yemen: $audi Influence Explained
The influence of Yemen's rich and powerful neighbor on it's internal affairs is no secret. Saudi Arabia's interference has been felt among Yemenis for decades. Now Yemenis have a list of politicians and tribal leaders said to be on Saudi Arabia's payroll. See how Yemeni netizens react in this post by Noon Arabia.
Mexico: Are Presidential Candidates Considering the Indigenous Vote?
With less than a month left before Mexicans go to the polls to vote for their next president, Katya Albiter from Vivir México [es] wonders about the indigenous vote. She highlights that the indigenous vote represents 6.5 per cent of the population and of the Federal Registry of Voters; the...
Iran: Jailed lawyer plays with her son
In social networking websites Iranian users are sharing a video footage of jailed lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, when she tries to play with her 4 years old son through a cabin window in a prison visit. Mrs. Sotoudeh, a human rights activist in Iran, is sentenced to 11 years in prison...
Palestine: Gaza's Terrorist Chickens Trend on Twitter
On June 5, an Israeli airstrike hit a poultry farm in the southern Gaza Strip, ending the lives of dozens of cackling chickens. In response to this attack, Twitter users were quick to come up with a humorous hashtag, #JihadiChickenBrigade, which soon trended worldwide.
Brazil: Satirical Blog ‘Falha’ Summarizes Censorship Case in Video
Brazilian journalist Lino Bocchini recorded [pt] a 2 minute video that summarizes the case of the satirical blog Falha de São Paulo. Falha was censored and sued by the newspaper Folha de São Paulo in 2010. Global Voices published an update on the story in May, 2012.
Baidu Map's Story about China
China Beat has captured a number of Chinese biggest search engine's map search results, which tell an interesting story about China – strong state, strong capital, weak social.
Kyrgyzstan: Rap Song Stokes Ethnic Hostility on Anniversary of Clashes
As Kyrgyzstan marks the second anniversary of the June 2010 events, a new rap song is stoking tension in Osh, a southern city which was the epicenter of the ethnic riots between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz two years ago. The song is already causing altercations which threaten to upset fragile piece in the troubled city.
Yemen: Famine
Lebanese Ramy Zurayk writes about the famine facing Yemen.
Jordan: Punish Rapists
Jordanian Mohammad Al Qaq, at Khobbeizeh, calls for no leniency in the punishment of rapists.
Egypt: A Legal Tangle
The Arabist sheds light on a legal tangle in Egypt, which could force fresh presidential elections. “All of this is to say that the situation is extremely confusing […] the elections could be cancelled. In fact, if parliament is dissolved as well, the transition would essentially go back to square...
Egypt: The Ultra's Song
Egyptian blogger Mostafa Hussein shares a video featuring a song by the Ahli football club supporters The Ultras on current events in Egypt.
Egypt: Recognising Catastrophe
Writing from Egypt, Maryanne Stroud Gabbani shares her thoughts on the Egyptian presidential elections here. “I wish I could really say that I've gained some understanding of what is happening in Egypt right now, of what we can expect, but I can't,” she confesses.
Egypt: Presidential Candidates from Outer Space
Zeinobia, from Egyptian Chronicles, discusses the Egyptian presidential elections runoffs and how both candidates are related to “outer space” in this post.
Bahrain: Free Ebrahim Sharif
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif expresses his views on opposition leader Ebrahim Sharif, who is in jail. “I feel so powerless and so ashamed of what is happening here. Especially when to me, the solution is staring everyone in the face,” he writes.
Algeria: Qatar's Role in Mali
Algerian-American blogger Kal, from The Moor Next Door, discusses claims of Qatar's alleged role in funding armed groups in northern Mali in this post.
